The England international was linked with a move to the Emirates before eventually joining Manchester City in a £49m deal.

After indicating he wanted to leave Liverpool and taking the transfer saga very public, Sterling was inevitably linked with a host of teams. But Arsenal director Lord Harris was delighted it wasn't his that the 21-year-old joined.

"Sterling is a very, very good player but I'm very pleased Arsenal didn't sign him," he told the Daily Mail.

"He's got a lot to learn. They were looking at him and the way he treated Liverpool wasn't good. Arsene does a lot of work on the players before they get to us and he doesn't take any nonsense."

Wenger said after the Sterling transfer was completed that Arsenal were never interested in signing him.

"It is a good buy for Man City. It looked a done deal for a while because Sterling was adamant he wanted the move,” said Wenger.

"It is an expensive one but they can afford it. We never considered it because he plays in an area where we have plenty of players."